Storage cabinet

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a storage cabinet including: a cabinet case having at least a lower cavity; a drawer adapted to fit within the lower cavity; and two front wheels connected to an outwardly-facing edge of the drawer. A first wheel of the two front wheels is located in proximity to a right-side corner of the outwardly-facing edge of the drawer; and a second wheel of the two front wheels is located in proximity to a left-side corner of the outwardly-facing edge of the drawer.

FIELD

The present invention is related to the field of storage cabinets.

BACKGROUND

A cabinet may be used for storing miscellaneous items, for example, inan office or a home. Some cabinets may be generally box-shaped, and mayhave doors and/or drawers which may be opened and closed by a user.

Some cabinets may be implemented as stand-alone furniture, whereas othercabinets may be built into a building cavity or may be attached to awall.

SUMMARY

The present invention may include a storage cabinet having a lowerdrawer which may be opened and closed by a user. The lower drawer maymove on rails, and may include two stabilizing wheels which may beconnected underneath the lower drawer. For example, a first stabilizingwheel may be connected at or near a first outward corner (e.g., a frontright corner) of the lower drawer, and a second stabilizing wheel may beconnected at or near a second outward corner (e.g., a front left corner)of the lower drawer.

The two stabilizing wheels may allow smooth and/or efficient opening andclosing of the drawer; may stabilize the storage cabinet; may preventtipping of the storage cabinet due to partial or full opening of thelower drawer, or due to placement of heavy items in the lower drawerwhile in an open position; and may support the movement of the lowerdrawer, thereby reducing pressure and wear-and-tear from the rails onwhich the lower drawer is mounted.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, a storage cabinetmay include: a cabinet case having at least a lower cavity; a draweradapted to fit within said lower cavity; and two front wheels connectedto an outwardly-facing edge of said drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, a first wheel ofthe two front wheels may be located in proximity to a right-side cornerof the outwardly-facing edge of the drawer; and a second wheel of thetwo front wheels may be located in proximity to a left-side corner ofthe outwardly-facing edge of the drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the two frontwheels may include two non-swiveling wheels.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the lower drawermay be located above a base surface of the storage cabinet.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the storagecabinet may further include two rear wheels connected underneath aninwardly-facing edge of the lower drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the two rearwheels may be adapted to roll within the lower cavity of the cabinetcase on top of the base surface.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the two rearwheels may be on top of the base surface; and the two front wheels maytouch a surface on which the storage cabinet stands.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the base surfacemay include two recesses therein to receive the two front wheels.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the storagecabinet may be a non-portable and/or non-rollable storage cabinet.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, the storagecabinet may include rails mounted within side panels of the lowercavity, and the lower drawer may slide on the rails.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, at least thelower drawer may be formed of plastic.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, substantially allcomponents of the storage cabinet may be formed of plastic.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, at least thelower drawer may be formed of one or more injected plastic materials.

In accordance with the present invention, for example, substantially allcomponents of the storage cabinet may be formed of one or more injectedplastic materials.

The present invention may provide other and/or additional benefitsand/or advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic illustrations of perspective views of astorage cabinet having wheels supporting a lower drawer, the lowerdrawer being in in an open position, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 1D is a schematic illustration of a right-side view of the storagecabinet in an open position, in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2B are schematic illustrations of perspective views of thestorage cabinet in a closed position, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2C is a schematic illustration of a front-side view of the storagecabinet in a closed position, in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic illustrations of perspective views of a lowerdrawer of the storage cabinet, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3D is a schematic illustration of a bottom view of the lower drawerof the storage cabinet, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of the lower drawer within thestorage cabinet, shown from the front side without a front panel, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of the lower drawer within thestorage cabinet, shown from the front side without a front panel andwithout a bottom panel, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of the lower drawer in an openposition, shown from the rear side, in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4D is a schematic illustration of the lower drawer in a closedposition, shown from the front side, in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Applicants have realized that a lower drawer of a storage cabinet maycause a safety hazard, for example, since opening a heavily-loaded lowerdrawer may cause the storage cabinet to tip over and fall.

Applicants have further realized that a lower drawer is located close tothe ground or floor, and thus the ground or floor may be utilized toprovide support for the lower drawer, for example, by having wheelsmounted underneath the lower drawer.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1A-1C, which are schematic illustrations ofperspective views of a storage cabinet 100 having wheels supporting alower drawer, the lower drawer being in an open position, in accordancewith the present invention; as well as to FIG. 1D, which is a schematicillustration of a right-side view of storage cabinet 100 in an openposition, in accordance with the present invention. Storage cabinet 100may include an upper storage area 101 and a lower drawer 102.

Upper storage area 101 may optionally include one or more chambers,drawers, doors, compartments, divider, shelves, handles, or other unitsor components.

Lower drawer 102 may fit inside a lower cavity 103 of storage cabinet100 (the spatial location of lower cavity 103 is partially filled bylower drawer 102 in FIG. 1A), and may be opened and closed by a user.Optionally, lower drawer 102 may be movable over a base surface 104 ofstorage cabinet 100. Lower drawer 102 may include multiple wheels, forexample, four wheels 111-114, which may be connected under a lower panel105 of lower drawer 102. Wheels 111-114 may be implemented, for example,as a pair of front wheels 111-112 which may be closer to an outward edge151 of lower drawer 102, while a pair of rear wheels 113-114 (shown inFIG. 3A) which may be closer to an inward edge 152 of lower drawer 102.

Optionally, the pair of rear wheels 113-114 may be able to roll on topof bottom panel 105, whereas the pair of front wheels 111-112 may beable to roll on a floor or ground located in front of bottom panel 105.Optionally, the pair of rear wheels 113-114 may be able to rollinternally within storage cabinet 100, whereas the pair of front wheels111-112 may be able to roll on a floor or ground located externally tostorage cabinet 100.

Each one of rear wheels 113-114 may be substantially identical to eachone of front wheels 111-112. Alternatively, rear wheels 113-114 may havedimensions or characteristics which may be different from those of frontwheels 111-112. For example, rear wheels 113-114 may be smaller and/ornarrower relative to front wheels 111-112, for example, since rearwheels 113-114 may roll internally within storage cabinet 100 whereasfront wheels 111-112 may roll externally to storage cabinet 100.

Each one of wheels 111-114 may be located at a corner, or in proximityto a corner, of lower panel 105 of lower drawer 102. For example, adistance between each one of wheels 111-114 (for example, wheel 111) anda nearest corner of lower drawer 102 (for example, a corner 153) may besmaller than ten percent of the longest horizontal edge of lower drawer102 (e.g., outward edge 151).

In a fully-closed position of lower drawer 102, front wheels 111-112 mayslightly protrude out of storage cabinet 100. Alternatively, in afully-closed position of lower drawer 102, front wheels 111-112 may fitinto recesses 121-122 (shown more clearly in FIG. 4A), respectively, inbase surface 104, such that front wheels 111-112 may not protrude out ofstorage cabinet 100, or may be completely or partially hidden withinstorage cabinet 100. Recesses 121-122 may be implemented as cavities,tunnels, slopes, or other structures, and may optionally allow the frontwheels 111-112 to remain at a same height or to be slightly elevatedrelative to a floor or ground on which storage cabinet 100 may stand.

In a fully closed position of lower drawer 102, as well as in apartially or fully opened position of lower drawer 102, front wheels111-112 may be able to touch a floor or ground on which storage cabinet100 stands. In contrast, in a fully closed position of lower drawer 102,as well as in a partially or fully opened position of lower drawer 102,rear wheels 113-114 may not be able to touch a floor or ground on whichstorage cabinet 100 stands; rather, rear wheels 113-114 may touch anupper side 154 of base surface 104, and may be movable on top of basesurface 104. Accordingly, even though lower drawer 102 may be mounted ontop of four wheels 111-114, base surface 104 may remain steady andnon-moving on a floor or ground, and storage cabinet 100 may not berollable, and may not roll sideways. In accordance with the presentinvention, storage cabinet 100 may be non-rollable, non-movable, noteasily movable, non-portable, or not easily portable; and may be movedby applying substantial force to push or lift or drag the entirety ofstorage cabinet 100, rather than to roll storage cabinet 100 on wheels(since storage cabinet 100 itself may not be mounted on four wheels, incontrast with lower drawer 102).

The four wheels 111-114, or alternatively, at least the two front wheels111-112, may be non-swiveling wheels which may be able to roll forwardand backward but may not be able to turn sideways relative to a verticalaxis. This may force each one of wheels 111-112 to move only along apre-defined line of movement, and/or may prevent an accidental orintentional attempt to move lower drawer 102 sideways relative tostorage cabinet 100.

Optionally, lower drawer 102 may be mounted on, and may be movable onrails, which may be installed on two side panels of lower cavity 103. Insuch implementation, wheels 111-114 may support the movement of lowerdrawer 102 relative to the rails, and may reduce pressure applied bylower drawer 102 to the rails, thereby possibly reducing wear-and-tearof the rails or preventing breaking of such rails.

Storage cabinet 100 may be formed of plastic; or, one or more componentsof storage cabinet 100 (e.g., lower drawer 102 and/or wheels 111-114)may be formed of plastic. Optionally, one or more of the components ofstorage cabinet 100 may be formed of injection molding of one or moreraw plastic material(s). The present invention may be exercised usingother suitable materials, for example, wood, metal(s), or the like;and/or using plastic components which may be formed by injection moldingor by other plastic manufacturing processes.

For example, storage cabinet 100 may be formed or assembled such thatsubstantially all the components of storage cabinet 100, in accordancewith the present invention, may be formed or plastic, or injectedplastic material(s), or wood, or metal, or the like. Optionally, atleast lower drawer 102 may be formed or plastic, or injected plasticmaterial(s), or wood, or metal, or the like. Other suitable material(s)or combinations of materials may be used.

Storage cabinet 100, or components thereof, are further depicted inFIGS. 2A-2C, in FIGS. 3A-3D, and in FIGS. 4A-4D.

Particularly, FIGS. 2A-2C show storage cabinet 100 while lower drawer102 is in a closed position. As shown, FIGS. 2A-2C demonstrate how allfour wheels 111-114 in such closed position are within storage cabinet100, and none of wheels 111-114 protrudes out of storage cabinet 100. Inthe closed position demonstrated in FIGS. 2A-2C, substantially theentirety of lower drawer 102 is within storage cabinet 100.

FIGS. 3A-3D show lower drawer 102 in greater detail. Particularly, allfour wheels 111-114 are shown, as well as their demonstrative locationsunder a bottom panel of lower drawer 102. Further demonstrated areadditional or optional features, for example, the pair of rear wheels113-114 may be slightly smaller than the pair of front wheels 111-112;the pair of rear wheels 113-114 may be slightly elevated relative to thepair of front wheels 111-112; and the distance between the pair of rearwheels 113-114 may be slightly greater than the distance between thepair of front wheels 111-112.

FIGS. 4A-4D show in greater detail a lower half of storage cabinet 100.Particularly demonstrated are cavity 103, into which lower drawer 102may fit; as well as recesses 121-122, into which front wheels 111-112may fit.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of some embodiments of the present invention havebeen illustrated and described herein, many modifications,substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage cabinet comprising: a cabinet casehaving at least a lower cavity; a drawer adapted to fit within saidlower cavity; and two front wheels connected to an outwardly-facing edgeof said drawer.
 2. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein a first wheelof the two front wheels is located in proximity to a right-side cornerof said outwardly-facing edge of said drawer, and wherein a second wheelof the two front wheels is located in proximity to a left-side corner ofsaid outwardly-facing edge of said drawer.
 3. The storage cabinet ofclaim 1, wherein the two front wheels comprise two non-swiveling wheels.4. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the lower drawer is locatedabove a base surface of the storage cabinet.
 5. The storage cabinet ofclaim 4, further comprising two rear wheels connected underneath aninwardly-facing edge of the lower drawer.
 6. The storage cabinet ofclaim 5, wherein the two rear wheels are adapted to roll within thelower cavity of the cabinet case on top of the base surface.
 7. Thestorage cabinet of claim 5, wherein the two rear wheels are on top ofthe base surface, and wherein the two front wheels touch a surface onwhich the storage cabinet stands.
 8. The storage cabinet of claim 4,wherein said base surface comprises two recesses therein to receive saidtwo front wheels.
 9. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the storagecabinet comprises a non-portable storage cabinet.
 10. The storagecabinet of claim 1, wherein the storage cabinet comprises a non-rollablestorage cabinet.
 11. The storage cabinet of claim 1, further comprisingrails mounted within side panels of the lower cavity, wherein the lowerdrawer is to slide on said rails.
 12. The storage cabinet of claim 1,wherein at least the lower drawer is formed of plastic.
 13. The storagecabinet of claim 1, wherein substantially all components of the storagecabinet are formed of plastic.
 14. The storage cabinet of claim 1,wherein at least the lower drawer is formed of one or more injectedplastic materials.
 15. The storage cabinet of claim 1, whereinsubstantially all components of the storage cabinet are formed of one ormore injected plastic materials.